Removable screen for foundation vents



June 23, 1959 F, P, FARRELL, 2,891,615

REMOVABLE SCREEN FOR FOUNDATION VENTS Filed June 6, 1958 This invention relates to a removable screen for foundation vents, and more particularly to a screen, for covering vent openings in foundation walls, which is easily and readily installed or removed from the exterior of the foundation wall.

A nf'object of this invention is to close avent opening in a foundation wall with a screen, perforated sheet, or f the like, to permit ventilation of the foundation, so that a screen can be installed from the exterior of the foundation wall, thereby avoiding the necessity for crawling beneath the building to install the screen and facilitating installation in instances in which the interior of the wall is inaccessible.

Another object of this invention is to fasten the screen within the vent opening, with means which is quickly and readily manually operable from the exterior of the foundation wall and adjustable to compensate for varying thicknesses of the foundation wall, whereby the lscreen is readily installed for use or removed for servicing, repair, or replacement.

This invention provides a screen and fastening means of the character described which is economical to manufacture and is capable of mass production.

These and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description, drawing and appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view, shown partly in cross-section, of a removable screen for foundation vents, designed and constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical, cross-sectional view as taken substantially along a line 2 2 of Fig. 1, with parts thereof shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view, in elevation, as seen on a line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown, by way of illustration, a vent screen, generally designated by the numeral 10, having a substantially rectangular frame 11 residing within a substantially rectangular vent opening 12 of a foundation wall 13. The frame 11 comprises substantially at horizontal top and bottom walls 14 and 14', respectively, and a pair of vertical end walls 15 and 16, of sheet metal or other suitable material, to form a tubular or box-like structure having open front and rear sides, 17 and 18, respectively, thus forming an opening 19 through the frame 11.

The frame 11 includes an outwardly extending flange 20, at the periphery of the front side 17, which is adapted to overlie Ithe external surface 21 of the foundation -wall 13, thereby serving to prevent inward movement of the frame 11, to cover any space between the opening 12 and the frame 11, thus eliminating the necessity for a close fit between the frame 11 and the opening 12, and covering any irregularities of the edge of the opening 12, to give a neater appearance to the wall. The flange 20 extends transversely to the tubular portion 14-16 and may be conveniently formed by transversely bending extensions of the walls 14-16 which constitute r '2,891,615 *ce Patented yJim@ 2:5,.4-1795'9 the tubular portion, as illustrated `in the drawing, the extensions being secured at the corners 22 as byV soldering, welding, or the like. If preferred, the walls 14-,16 and the flange 20 may be integrally formed, as in a punch press or other suitable apparatus, or, as shown in the drawings, comprise discrete sheet metal pieces secured together as by overlapping tabs 23, soldered, welded, or otherwise secured.

A lwire screen 24 is secured around its periphery by soldering, welding or the like, as indicated at 26, to the frame 11, at the open end 17, to close the open end `while preventing entry of pests such as insects, vermin, or the like, while still providing the desired ventilation through the openingl 19 of the frame 11. Thescreen224 may be formed of any convenient size mesh and includes a centrally located enlarged opening 27 for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. i

In order to removably secure the frame 11 within the opening 12, a fastening means generally designated by the numeral 28 is secured within the frame 11 and extends outwardly thereof to clampingly engage the inner surface 29 of the foundation wall 13. The fastening means 28 comprises a casing 30 in the form of a tubular member havingan open end 31, aligned with the enlarged opening 27 of the screen 24, and an opposite externally threaded end 32 closed as by an internally threaded cap 33. The casing 30 houses the plunger 36 and its spring 49. The casing 30 is secured tothe frame 11 as by a pair of transverse webs 34, soldered or otherwise secured at its ends vto the walls 14 and 141and the casing 30. A plunger 36 in the form of a bolt is/rotatably disposed within the`casing 30 and .extends outwardly'therefron'l through an opening 37 of the cap 33. The shaft 36 includes an enlarged head 38 on the end 39 residing within the casing 30, the enlarged head 38 having a transverse kerf 41 or other tool engaging means for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

The plunger 36 further includes external threads 42 on the end 43, extending outwardly of the casing 30, on which a transverse latch member 44 is adjustably secured as by a pair of nuts 45 and 46.

rIlle latch member 44 is formed of an elongated relatively rigid strip of metal, or other suitable material, one end 47 of which is preferably of sufcient length to overlie the inner surface 29 of the foundation wall 13 when positioned in a vertical position as indicated in solid lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to bias the latch means 44 against the inner surface 29 of the foundation wall 13 in its installed position, a coil spring 49 is disposed in the casing 30. The spring 49 is circumjacent the plunger 36 and has one end 51 thereof bearing against a transverse Wall 52 of the cap 33 and another end 53 thereof bearing against the enlarged head 38 of the plunger 36 to bias the plunger 36 axially, Within the casing 30, towards the open end 31 thereof and the end 47 of the latch member 44 against the inner surface 29 of the wall 13.

The latch means 44 may be rotated upwardly to disengage the end 47 from the surface 29 of the wall 13 by engaging the kerf 41 of the enlarged head 38 with a screw driver or other suitable tool to rotate the plunger 36 and thereby rotate the latch means 44 Ito a position shown in broken lines 44' in Fig. 1.

To install the screen 10 within the opening 12 of the foundation wall 13, the frame 11 is inserted into the opening 12 until the ange 22 is in abutment with the outer surface 21 of the foundation wall 13. During this operation, the latch means 44 is in the position shown in broken lines 44' of Fig. l in order that the end 47 of the latch means 44 clears the opening 12. The screw driver or other suitable tool is engaged within the kerf 41 of the head 38 of the plunger 36 and the plunger 36 is 2,891,615 I Y a 'pushed inwardly, against the bias of the spring 49, to compress the spring 49 and extend the latch means to a position, shown in dotted lines 44 in Fig. 2, beyond the inner surface 29 of the wall 13. Before releasing the spring 49, the plunger 36 is rotated, by manual manipulation of the tool within the kerf 41, to rotate the latch means 44 into the vertical position shown in positions Figs. 1 and 2 to bring the end 47 of the latch means into overlying relationship with the wall surface Z9. The spring 49 is then released, by releasing the inward pressure of the tool, to permit the spring 49 to bias the shaft outwardly and thereby bias the end 47 into engagement with the inner surface 29 of the wall 13 to clamp the Wall 13 between the latch means 44 and the pheripheral flange 20 of the frame 11, thereby securely fastening the vent screen 10 to the wall 13.

If it is desired to remove the vent screen 11), for repair7 replacement, or other reasons, the kerf 41 of the enlarged head 31 may be engaged by the screw driver to rotate the plunger 36 until the end 47 is disengaged from the surface 29 of the wall 13, thereby unfastening the vent screen which can easily be slid outwardly of the opening 12.

The distance between the latch means 44 and the ange 20 may be quickly and easily adjusted to compensate for varying thicknesses of the foundation `wall like frame 11 by manipulation of the nuts 45, 46 to shift the member 44, along the plunger 36, further away, or closer to the frame 11.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention which are not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices. The removable screen may be used in the vent opening of any suitable wall or device.

I claim:

1. A removable wall ventilator for a foundation Wall vent opening comprising, a substantially rectangular frame having an outwardly extending peripheral flange adapted to overlie the outer surface of said foundation wall and an inwardly directed tubular portion adapted to tit within said opening, a screen covering said frame opening, fastening means including a rotatable plunger having a transverse latch member xed to the inner end thereof, said plunger having an operating head, said tubular portion having a transverse web, a casing on said web, said casing serving as a slide support for said plunger, and a spring between said head of said plunger and the end of said casing, said latch member being long enough to overlie one edge of said frame when said plunger is in one rotary position while being short enough to lie within an adjoining edge of said rectangular frame when said plunger is in another rotary position.

2. A removable wall ventilator according to claim 1', said operating head being a tool receiving head slidable in said casing.

3. A removable wall ventilator according to claim 1, said frame having a pair of opposite comparatively long Walls and other shorter walls, said Web extending midway between said comparatively long walls.

4. A removable wall ventilator according to claim'l, said screen having a central opening, said casing having an open end tting said screen opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,720,260 Pulcinski Oct. 11, 1955 2,821,895 Allabaugh Feb. 4, 1958 2,834,278 Crute May 13, 1958 

